Rohde & Schwarz and UWB Decawave have developed test and measurement functions to verify UWB functionality in chipsets and complete devices on production lines. In this collaboration, Decawave contributed expertise on the necessary testing strategy and methods, as well as the DW3000 chip for testing. Rohde & Schwarz added UWB testing functions to the R&S CMP200, making it the only platform on the market capable of providing R&D and production with RF tests for both 5G FR2 and UWB functions.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is based on the IEEE 802.15.4a and 802.15.4z standards and facilitates centimeter-level accuracy in location measurements at distances up to 75 meters. This technology includes secure data communication at transmission speeds of up to 27 Mbps with very low power consumption. UWB technology is ideal for implementing low-latency, highly accurate, reliable, and secure location services in close-range environments. It opens new horizons in the fields of mobile telephony and automotive, as well as for IoT and Industry 4.0 applications. Thanks to its ultra-wide bandwidth and very low power density, UWB signals can share the spectrum with other narrowband and broadband systems without causing interference.
The 802.15.4a/z standards include several frequency bands. Decawave, as a founding member of the UWB Alliance, has already supplied products using frequencies from 3.5 GHz to 6.5 GHz. However, the focus is now on the high band with defined channels between 5.8 GHz and 10.6 GHz. The high band supports higher power transmission and allows for greater range. The DW3000 chipset will use UWB channels 5 and 9 in the high band with a bandwidth of 500 MHz.
Anton Messmer, Vice President of Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, says: “OEM and ODM customers are preparing to deploy their UWB products and expect test and measurement equipment to be ready and capable of meeting their manufacturing needs.”
Jeff Clancy, Vice President of Engineering at Decawave, says: “This collaboration enables our customers to bring their products to market quickly and efficiently in large quantities.” We are delighted to collaborate with Rohde & Schwarz and help ensure their solutions meet the testing and measurement requirements of UWB technology."
The R&S CMP200 Radio Communication Tester is designed to meet the RF testing requirements for devices operating in the 6 GHz to 20 GHz frequency range in standalone mode. When used with the R&S CMPHEAD30 Remote RadioHead, its application range is extended to the critical 5G FR2 bands of 28 GHz and 39 GHz. This Rohde & Schwarz solution is the only one on the market that offers both R&D and production testing capabilities for UWB and 5G FR2 technologies in a single instrument.
